Conference of European Rabbis Annual Review 2017-2018 (5777-5778) 21 www.rabbiscer.org The ongoing campaign against antisemitism Campaigns The CER continues to monitor the European institutions for instances of antisemitism and relevant trends. The Conference of European Rabbis is always available for local communities to support their efforts in fighting antisemitism and to work with individual Rabbis if they feel under attack. International Events Over the last few years, the CER has taken responsibility for ensuring the Jewish community is represented at high-level international events including the Munich Security Conference (MSC) and the World Economic Forum in Davos. In 2017 discussions focused on the link between radicalisation and the growth of terrorist incidents internationally. At the MSC in 2018, a panel discussion was chaired by Chief Rabbi Goldschmidt and focused on the steep rise in the spread of antisemitic incidents and how the language surrounding antisemitism has rapidly evolved. One key point addressed was how rhetoric from both the Left and Right have made the threat of terror more prevalent and real for the Jewish community than ever before. During the discussion, the panel explored the changing nature of hate crime and subsequent threats posed against the global Jewish community. The speakers concluded that authorities in every country must stand up for pluralism and lead the fight against rampant antisemitism. At Davos, the CER participated in a panel that discussed the power of technology and its effects on religious freedoms. Panellists over the last two years included Ambassador Stuart E. Eizenstat, Former US Under Secretary of State and Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, Mr. Edi Rama, the Prime Minister of Albania and Mr. Isaac Herzog, the then Opposition Leader in the Knesset Israel. Far-right The CER has appointed special envoys for countering far-right extremism who have started work to monitor and track the menace of radical extremism, religious intolerance and cultural prejudice emanating from the far-right. The fight against far-right extremism is one of the immense struggles of our time. Incidents have been on the rise. The tragic events targeting the community in Pittsburgh last year brought this hate to the attention of the world’s media. In response to the threat posed by the far-right, the CER has created a provision to actively inform the discussion at every level, so that steps can be taken to protect Jewish communities as much as possible by working with officials. Rabbi Schlomo Hofmeister and Dr. Alexander Pesov have agreed to take this important position and will issue their first report in the coming months. European Parliament Relations with the European Institutions (European Commission and Parliament) have never been more cordial and constructive. Rabbi Albert Guigui has been working with the European Commissioners and the European Parliamentarians, who have been receptive and understanding. Upon his election, Mr. Frans Timmermans, Senior Vice-President of the European Commission has been keen to meet a delegation of members of the CER headed by president Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt. During this first meeting, The CER representatives expressed fears and our apprehensions to Mr. Timmermans. Due to the growing rise of antisemitism in Europe Sir Frans Timmermans understood the need for a liaison between Jewish Communities in Europe. He appointed an official Mrs. Katharina von Schnurbein to fill this position to link the European institutions and representatives of Jewish communities in Europe. E U R O P E A N PA R L I A M E N T D AVO S, W O R L D E C O N O M I C FO R U M